In a deeply disturbing case from Maryland, a 27-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly confessing to killing his grandmother, a respected retired doctor. The man, Spencer Dillon Hamilton, told police he hid in her bedroom closet for hours before attacking her early in the morning on March 30.
The shocking incident has left the local community stunned and mourning the loss of a woman known for her dedication to medicine and education.
Suspect Walked Into Police Station and Confessed
According to police reports, Spencer Hamilton walked into the Rockville City Police Station around 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 30. There, he calmly told officers that he had just killed a family member. He was immediately taken into custody by Montgomery County Police.
Emergency responders rushed to the home of Dr. Pauline Yvonne Titus-Dillon, located in Rockville, Maryland. They found the 87-year-old unresponsive in the bathroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Happened: Charging Documents Reveal Details
Court documents reviewed by the media describe a chilling account. Hamilton allegedly admitted that he had hidden inside his grandmother’s bedroom closet between 4 and 4:30 a.m. before launching a violent attack.
He reportedly stabbed her in the back, punched her multiple times in the head and face, and then strangled her. Afterwards, he tried to move her body, cleaned up the scene, and took her credit cards, phone, and laptop, according to the police.
Motive Still Unknown, Psychiatric Evaluation Ordered
Authorities have not revealed a clear motive for the attack. When Hamilton appeared in court on March 31, the judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation to assess his mental state. His next hearing is scheduled for April 7.
He remains in custody at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. As of now, it is unclear if he has a lawyer representing him.
Remembering Dr. Pauline Yvonne Titus-Dillon
The victim, Dr. Pauline Yvonne Titus-Dillon, was a highly respected internal medicine doctor. She graduated from Howard University Medical School in 1964 and later served as an associate dean at the university’s hospital.
Friends and colleagues have remembered her as a trailblazer in the medical field. Family friend Nicole Cutts told The Washington Post, “She was a brilliant woman. Just a great, great person.” Dr. Titus-Dillon broke barriers at a time when there were very few women in medicine, especially Black women.